I want to give a shout out to all you lovely readers, who have taken the time to review my story! Just three more chapters after this one! I will be posting a Holiday story come tomorrow called 'A Year in Her Life' and it's a short one that follows Hermione for a single year centered around a Holiday theme. Each chapter will be posted on the corresponding Holidays (New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Easter, Midsummer, Hermione's Birthday, Autumnal Equinox, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Ending one year from tomorrow on New Year's Eve) Hope you will all check it out!

Lucius Malfoy wasn't the kind of wizard who allowed others to take advantage of him yet since the day the Dark Lord took over his home and had relieved him of his wand, it seemed as if he was in a never ending loop of trying to undo certain, shall we say, questionable choices.

Many people would automatically believe that he'd chosen to follow the Dark Lord, and there was a time he'd had but that was when his Father was alive and Lord of the Manor. Just as he'd known that his diabolical and clever wife had found a way around the Malfoy Marriage contract and had his father killed, he'd known that he couldn't save his own son from his Father's choices.

And the largest of those choices had been following the Dark Lord.

Lucius had been branded and as a consequence when he'd failed his mission to retrieve the Prophecy—his only Son and Heir had been tasked to redeem the family name. Lucius had been a shadow of his former self when he'd gotten out of Azkaban after being there for nearly a year. He'd seen what that place had done to the likes of Dolohov, the Lestrange's and Bellatrix. One did not emerge from that place unscathed.

Again his cunning wife had found a way to save their family from utter ruin and Lucius knew that he would always be beholden to her for saving them from further punishment.

When he'd found the time turner amongst his Father's possessions he hadn't even considered why he'd wanted it fixed.

Only that it might be prudent to have it as a back up of sorts...should the need ever arise.

As he stared down at the unfinished prototype—Lucius felt sick to his stomach.

How in the world was he going to ensure that Theodore Nott wouldn't allow his questionably sane fiancée to ruin his family due to his shortsightedness?

He could have the witch killed, but it would raise too many questions. If he removed both Theodore and Daphne, it might be more feasible, but since he'd been seen at the Ministry going into Theo's office, the likelihood of him being questioned was a given.

His wand was still being monitored as well.

Lucius placed the device back into the family safe for the time being, before walking over and pouring himself a stiff shot of firewhiskey. As he went to knock it back, his floo activated and out walked his wife looking elegant as always.

She siphoned off the soot and then came over to greet him with a small peck of welcome.

"Lucius, isn't it a bit early in the day for that?"

Her finger pointing to his glass as well as the stern look of rebuke, just had the Lord of the Manor smirking at his gorgeous bride.

"It's never too early somedays for a stiff drink, my love. How was your visit with Draco and Scorpius?"

"It was fine. Pansy joined us after a bit as Miss Granger was called away to Mr. Potter's. Apparently, it wasn't the most positive of visits as she returned home looking a bit worse for wear."

The look of abject disgust on her husband's face at the mention of the Potter Boy was to be expected.

"Did she mention what transpired?"

"No, she didn't but if I had to hazard a guess—I do believe that Miss Greengrass may have approached one of her former friend's looking for damning information. The fact that they chose to contact her speaks to the fact that despite their fall-out...there's still some loyalty that remains."

"Gryffindors." Lucius said disdainfully before his mouth quirked up at a thought. "Or perhaps they know what might happen should they seek to go after Miss Granger, thus getting on her bad side?"

Narcissa smiled and nodded. "I am sure the thought probably crossed their minds."

"I must say my dear, that the young witch has turned out to be more formidable than I'd ever imagined. The press the past few weeks has been nothing short of complimentary and after that debacle at the Leaky Cauldron with the youngest Weasley boy...the Malfoy's stock such as it is—has started to rise once again."

"This is true." Narcissa sighed as her husband helped her out of her outer robes and then offered her a seat next to him. "Our last meeting was rather unexpected. She shared with me the inroads she's made with old Dagmoor. Apparently the wizard was initially dismissive of her overtures until she managed to find, in her research...and don't ask me how she figured it out..."

Narcissa shook her head in wonder and now Lucius was quite intrigued.

"Found out what?"

"Who Dagmoor's old flame was. I never gave her that information. Did you know husband of mine, that the witch in question and Dagmoor have been carrying on an illicit affair for nearly the entirety of both their marriages?"

Lucius sat back and chuckled deeply, astonished that he hadn't known this piece of juicy gossip.

"Are you sure?"

"Quite. Miss Granger had lunch with Minerva and Horace Slughorn some days prior and something tells me both of them led her in the proper direction."

"So, who was it? I don't believe you ever shared your suspicions with me."

Narcissa grinned evilly as her eyes sparkled with mirth. "Posy Parkinson."

"Shite!" Lucius murmured out before he could stop himself and his lovely wife was clearly not impressed with the profanity if the censured look she was giving him was any indication.

"Sorry my love."

Narcissa delicately cleared her throat but then continued on as if her husband hadn't interrupted her.

"Posy was a couple years younger than Dagmoor and I had heard through the rumor mill that they were quite involved in school, but her family had betrothed her to Edmund despite him being considerably older than she was. But I hadn't heard a whiff of the fact that they were still involved."

"Then how exactly did Miss Granger's figure it out?"

Narcissa's face bloomed into a devious smile. "She had surmised from our previous conversation that Dagmoor's relationship with his wife was not his initial choice. From there, I do believe she might've somehow gotten the information from Minerva and Horace— who never missed much of the goings on at Hogwarts especially within Slytherin House. She went to Dagmoor with the idea of putting on a fundraiser of sorts for his Department and casually suggested working with Posy Parkinson, as she'd gotten to know Pansy very well. Dagmoor's reaction was very telling from what Miss Granger shared. Enough that she believes he's still involved with Lady Parkinson."

"Do you think Edmund knows?"

Narcissa shrugged. "Can you imagine that wizard being alright with his wife carrying on an affair for the past twenty five years?"

Lucius chuckled deeply and shook his head in the negative before his expression took on a contemplative look.

"How sure are we that Pansy and her sister are actually Edmunds?"

Narcissa tapped her finger against her lip thoughtfully as she stared over her husband's shoulder at the smaller version of the Malfoy Family tree on the wall behind him.

"The Parkinson Family has their own tree, that being said—I'd imagine there might be some way to magically alter it? If a family member can be blasted off a tree, I suppose one could be modified if necessary?"

"Pansy or Poppy?"

"I'd tend to think Pansy—given the way her mother all but dismissed her after her unfortunate outburst prior to the final battle. If she truly was Dagmoor's child, I surmise that Posy would've never distanced herself so casually from her eldest daughter. Which means that Poppy, being the favored child now—may or may not be Edmund's blood. Edmund as much as he espouses certain ideals, wouldn't have wanted his reputation in tatters regardless of sentiment and since there is Poppy, he probably didn't fight his wife on it either."

"This is speculation."

"Yes. But based on the evidence—I tend to think it's correct."

"What do you wish to do about it?"

"Nothing quite yet." Narcissa tilted her head thoughtfully. "Pansy has been a loyal friend to Draco and a wonderful Godmother to Scorpius. Whatever her shortcomings, she has always been loyal to House Malfoy and we would be remiss in our obligations if we didn't acknowledge that fact and intervene if necessary on her behalf. She will be attending the gala this Saturday with Blaise, Draco and Miss Granger. I do believe her parents will also be in attendance as well as Dagmoor. It's a shame we aren't invited, but I'm sure I can finagle a memory or two from Draco afterwards. If onto to satiate my curiosity."

Lucius grinned as he picked up his wife and pulled her into his lap, cupping her face lovingly. Her blue eyes sparkled with mirth and affection and not for the first time Lucius lamented his luck in winning his witch's favor. She had been chased by many a wizard during their years at school, but eventually chose him.

He was a lucky wizard and knew it.

"Everyday I give thanks that you are mine, dear wife. If I ever forget to remind you how utterly besotted I am with you now and always—you may remind me at your pleasure."

Narcissa hummed happily before placing a chaste kiss on her husband's lips.

"I adore you as well. Despite everything that has happened I am grateful we are still here. That our son is alive, happy and well. That our grandson in thriving. But mostly, I'm grateful we have been given a second chance to undo the wrongs we've done Lucius. I know this future wasn't one we would've sought out for our son and grandson—but the more time I spend with Miss Granger—the more I've come to understand that perhaps our prior line of thinking is due for an upgrade."

Lucius sighed heavily but after several minutes nodded, his gaze shrewd and knowing.

"You wish to try and make amends with your sister?"

Narcissa's eyes glistened and she nodded. "I do not know if Andromeda will give me the opportunity, but I do believe with Miss Granger's good will the possibility is not hopeless."

Lucius knew that his wife had missed her sister over these past twenty five years. They had all been especially close with each other. Bellatrix had forced Narcissa's hand when Andromeda had run off with Ted Tonks and there was no going back after that. When she'd gone to Azkaban, Narcissa had pondered for weeks about trying to get in contact but his Father would've not taken too kindly to any such overtures and the decision had been made.

Now, Narcissa was finally free to follow her heart.

He wouldn't stand in the way of that. He owed too much to his lovely bride to do so.

"I will support whatever you wish to do love. It's the least I can do after all you've done for me and our family."

Narcissa kissed her husband again, this time a bit more heatedly before pulling back and smiling widely.

"Thank you Luc."